Bath apparatus.



J. T. BARLOW,

BATH APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I2. 1915.

Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

JOHN THOMAS BARLOW, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS.

BATH APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Dec. 14, 1915.

Application filed April 12, 1915. Serial No. 20,682.

Z 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that 1, JOHN THOMAS BAR- now, a citizen of the United States, residing in the village of Oak Park, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Bath Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to bath apparatus. Its principal object is to provide means for avoiding the loss and waste of water when the apparatus is not actually being used for bathing purposes. Such loss in shower or spray bath apparatus is frequently very great, as it is common practice for persons to emerge from the place where the bathing is done, dress, and even to go away leaving the water turned on. The waste thus continues sometimes for hours during the day and frequently all night, and until discovered by a caretaker or another user and shut off.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, I have illustrated the present invention embodied in simple types of apparatus adapted to avoid the objectionable waste pointed out.

Figure 1 of these drawings shows a fragmentary front elevation of a shower or spray bath compartment with a portion of the front wall thereof broken away and showing a simple bar-like form of the ob structing element; Fig. 2 is a fragmentary 7 vertical sectional view of the same'apparatus at right angles to the view of Fig. 1, as on the line 22 thereof in the direction of the arrows, the obstructing rod however being in lowered position; Fig. 3 is a fragmentary front elevation of the preferred form of construction where a curtain is employed, the curtain being partially broken away; Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the means of Fig. 1 for holding the obstructing rod in raised position, the view being as if on the line 44 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of obstructing bar holding means.

The pipe 10 adapted to be connected with a source of hot water supply, the pipe 11 adapted to be connected with a source of cold water supply, the hand valves 12 and 13, known as mixing valves, the pipe or pipes 14 and the spray nozzle 15 are old and well known in the art. Preferably intermediate the mixing valves and the pipe 14, and, broadly, in the pipe 'adapted'to convey bathing water to the shower nozzle 15, I provide a valve, as 16, which may be of any suitable construction, and in the specific form illustrated is of the ordinary spigot or plug type. The valve element thereof has the usual projection 17 suitably angular, whereby it may be turned into open and closed relative positions. On this stem or projection 17 I secure, in the device of Figs. 1 and 2, the obstructing rod 18, which extends into the doorway 19 or path of entrance to and exit from the bath compartment, or place where the bathing is adapted to be done. The function of the bar or rod 18 is to provide an obstruction in this 'path 19 against the convenient passage of a person to and from the bath. Means are provided for maintaining the rod 18 in its raised or obstructing position, as in Fig. 1, these means being suitably a spring-pressed detent 18 carried by the rod 18 and adapted to interlock with the recess 20 in the extension 21 of the valve 16, a suitable clearance, as 22, being provided in the projection or support 21 whereby the detent 18 may ride into the recess 20 when the rod 18 is being raised into obstructing position. In Fig. 5 I have illustrated other suitable means for holding the rod 18 in obstructing position, these means comprising a pair of spring clips 23 narrowed, as at 24, so as to hold the rod 18 and having flaring ends 25 to guide the rod 18 betweenthe clips 28, this holding element being suitably carried by a wall of the compartment, as the front wall 26, or otherwise as desired.

When the rod 18 is in the raised or obstructing position, as in Fig.1, the valve 16 is open and water may flow through the nozzle 15 for bathing purposes. When this rod 18 is in itslowered position, as in Fig. 2, the valve 16 is closed and no water issues from the nozzle 15.

The rod 18 being lowered, a person desirrecess 20, the bar 18 falls by gravitation into.

its position in Fig. 2, closing the valve 16 and shutting ofl the further issue of water at the nozzle 15.

In the device of Fig. 3 the passageway 19, is obstructed by a curtain 29 suspended as by the rings 30 upon the rod 31. The free end of the curtain 29 is preferably also secured to a rod 32, as by rings 33, the upper end of the rod 33 carrying the ring 30. A twoqoart or toggle-like lever or arm 34:, 8 1 has one end thereof adapted to be moved when the curtain is shifted and is preferably pivotally connected, as at 35, to the rod 32 where such a rod 32 is employed, the two parts 34', 34 being pivotally connected together, as at 36, the part 34.- being connected upon the stem or projection 17, as is the bar 18 of Fig. l. WVhen the curtain 29 is in obstructing position, as in the full lines of Fig. 3, the valve 16 is open. When the curtain is moved, as to the left in thatfigure, as by pushing upon the bar 32 so as to open the passageway 19, the arms 3%, 34 come into their dotted line positions respectively in Fig. 4: and the valve 16 is closed; Be fore a person may have a bath it is therefore necessary that he close the passageway 19 which he naturally does for purposes of seclusion, by shifting the curtain 29 to its full line position of Fig. 3; and when he desires to emerge from the compartment it is necessary that he shift the curtain and the rods 34, 34 closing the valve 16 The rods 34, 34* being on an angle with respect to each other readily yield as desired when the curtain is moved from the opening position.

To facilitate the sliding of the rings 30 upon the rod 31 I may connect the tops of these rings, provided with small rings or anchors 38, by a cord or small cable 39, whereby a pull upon the ring 30 as by moving the rod 32, moves the tops of the rings respectively to the same extent that the bottoms thereof are drawn by the ourtain 29, thus preventing their binding upon the rod 31.

It is sometimes desirable to remove the curtain as for cleaning or repair, in which case the toggle lever 34, 34 acts directly as the obstruction and the advantages ofthe device are maintained.

I have illustrated this invention in assoclosing to the ciation with a front wall 26, side walls 26 and a rear wall 26 as bathing apparatus is usually installed in compartments to afford privacy. The invention may be employed, however, free of such compartments by the provision of obstructing means in the path of entrance to and exit from the place where the bathing is adapted to be done, and may be employed also in connection with other specific bathing devices than the one illustrated. Numerous changes may be made too in the character, construction and arrangement of the obstructing means and valve mechanism and in the arrangement of each to the other without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I contemplate all such changes and modifications as fall within the; scope of the appended. claims. I I

I claim:

1. In a bath apparatus, the combination of walls forming a compartment and hav ing a singlepassageway for entraneethe'reto and exit therefrom, passageway obstructing means adapted to be moved into and out of the path of entrance to and eXit from said compartment, means for supplying water to said compartment for the bath, a valve controlling the water supply for said bath, said obstructing means being operatively connected to said valve to open and close the same, the arrangement being such that when said obstructing means is in obstructing relation with respect to said passageway said valve is open, and when moved out of such obstructingrelation said valve is closed.

2; In a bath apparatus the combination,

of means providing a compartment, means including-a fixe'd'discharge nozzle for supplying water to said compartment for bathing, said water-supplying means having a valve adapted tocontrol the flow ofwater therethrough, said compartment having a single path of entrance thereto and exit therefrom, movable means in saidpath adaptedto provide an obstruction in one relative position thereof to a person desiring to enter said compartment or to go out therefrom, said obstructing means being connected to said valve to open the same when said obstructing means are moved into obstructing position and to close the same when saidobstructing means are moved out of obstructing position, andmeans for holding said movable means in such obstructing position.

3. In a bath apparatus the combination of means including a relatively fixed spraying nozzle adapted to be connected to a source of water supply for spraying, means providinga single path of'entrance to and exit from the place where spraying is adapted to be done, movable bar-like means inde pendent, of said spraying nozzle adapted 'toextend into such path ofentrance'and exit and to constitute an obstruction to the convenient entrance to and exit from the place where spraying is adapted to be done, avalve adapted to control the flow of water through said spraying device, said bar-like means being movable substantially vertically and connected to said valve to open the same when said bar-like means are in obstructing position and to close said valve when said bar-like means are moved out of such obstructing position, and means for holding said bar-like means in obstructing position.

4. In a bath apparatus, the combination of a spraying device, a pipe for conveying Water thereto, a valve adapted to control the flow of water through said pipe, a curtain support, slidable rings on said curtain support and connected to said curtain to support the same, a toggle lever operatively associated with said curtain and with said valve in such manner that when said curtain is moved on said curtain support from one position to another said toggle lever is moved and said valve is opened and when moved from such other position into the initial position said valve is closed.

In a bath apparatus, the combination of a spraying device, a pipe for conveying \vater thereto, a valve adapted to control the flow of water through said pipe, a movable curtain in the path of entrance to and exit from the place where spraying is adapted to be done, and means under the control of said curtain and operatively connected to said valve adapted to close said valve when said curtain is moved from one position to another in said path of entrance and exit.

6. In a bath apparatus, the combination of a spraying device, a pipe for conveying water thereto, a valve adapted to control the flow of water through said pipe, a movable curtain in the path of entrance to and exit from the place where spraying is adapted to be done, and means under the control of said curtain and operatively connected to said valve adapted to open said valve when said curtain is moved into said path of entrance and exit, and to close said valve when said curtain is moved to provide free passage to a person into or from said compartment.

7. In a bath apparatus, the combination of a spraying device, a pipe for conveying water thereto, a valve adapted to control the How of water through said pipe, a curtain movably mounted to open and close the path of entrance to and exit from the place where spraying is adapted to be done, a support at the free edge portion of said curtain, a toggle lever, one end portion of said toggle lever being pivotally connected to said support, the other end portion being in operative relation to said valve so as to open the same when said curtain is moved into.

its path closing position and to close said valve when said curtain is moved into its path opening position.

8. In a bath apparatus the combination of walls forming a compartment and having a passageway for entrance to and exit therefrom, means adapted to be connected to a source of water supply for spraying upon a person in said compartment, a valve adapted to control the flow of water in said means, a toggle lever operatively connected to said valve and adapted to extend into said path in obstructing relation thereto, a supporting rod substantially horizontally disposed, a substantially vertically disposed rod slidable on said support, one end portion of said toggle lever being pivoted to said substantially vertical rod, said last mentioned rod being adapted to move in said path, the arrangement being such that when said toggle lever is in its obstructing position in said path said valve is open and when moved out of such obstructing position said valve is closed.

9. In bath apparatus, the combination of means defining a place where spraying is adapted to be done, a spraying nozzle adapted to be connected to a source of water supply and arranged for spraying clownvvard directly upon a persons head when at said place, means providing a path of entrance to said place, said path being also the path of exit from said place, a valve controlling the flow of water through said nozzle, means independent of said nozzle in said path adapted to obstruct the exit of a person from said place, said obstructing means being movable out of such obstructing position, said obstructing means being connected to said valve whereby said valve is closed when said obstructing means are moved out of such obstructing position.

10. In bath apparatus, the combination of means defining a place for bathing, a rela tively fixed discharge nozzle adapted to discharge water at said place, means for conveying water to said discharge nozzle, a valve adapted to control the supply of water through said nozzle, means providing a path of entrance by a person to said place, said path being also the path of exit therefrom, obstructing means independent of said nozzle movable into obstructing position in said path and out of such obstructing position, said obstructing means being connected to said valve so as to close the same and stop the flow of water through said nozzle when said obstructing means are moved out of such obstructing position.

11. Bath apparatus comprising, in combination, a spraying device, means providing a passage-way constituting the sole means of passage by a person to and from means whereby when said bar is moved out sald spraylng devlce, a swlnglng bar lndeof obstructlng posltlon the flow of Water pendent of said spraylng devlce movable to sa1d spraylng device 1s cut ofi.

into and out of passageway-0bstructing JOHN THOMAS BARLOW. position, valve means controlling the flow Htnesses:

of Water to said spraying device, and a con- JOHN J. OBRIEN,

nection between said bar and said valve FRANKLIN M. VVARDEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

